A Teachable Student

"Uh... Oh oh oh oh~~~"

Qin Jiu awoke with excruciating pain, opening his eyes to find himself hanging upside down among pine branches, his clothes tattered, unable to move, his body throbbing as if it were falling apart, and he couldn't help but let out a series of groans.

"Oh... Help, help me... Damn old man... Is he crazy? He just threw me down like that... Waaaaah, it hurts so much..."

"It's okay as long as you feel pain. A real man shouldn't cry over a scrape."

Qin Jiu glanced sideways and saw the white Thunder Monkeys ghost standing on a pine branch, laughing at him.

"Yes, it's you! Monkey, big monkey! Please help me! I've been thrown down from the sky by an old madman!"

The monkey's face turned cold. "Hmph, you're brainless, lack discernment, and have no manners whatsoever. Plus, you don't even have a cheat code! How are you going to survive in this world? Are you looking for death? Hang up for a few days and reflect on your actions!"

Qin Jiu was dumbfounded. "No, don't go! Monkey, don't go! Help! Help me!"

Qin Jiu tried desperately to struggle, but the vines bound him tightly, as if his spine were bent, leaving him powerless. He could only howl and beg for mercy.

"I was wrong, I was wrong! Immortal Monkey! Monkey Immortal! Please save my life, I'll go down to the river and catch fish for you to eat!"

The monkey glared at him, picked up a pine cone, and smashed it on his head.

"Are you stupid? Do monkeys eat fish?"

Upon hearing that the other party was still there, Qin Jiu hurriedly called out, "What doesn't a monkey eat... Oh, oh, what do you want to eat? Just tell me, I, Qin Jiu, swear that as long as you, Monkey Immortal, save my life, I'll get you whatever you want to eat!"

"Hmph, it's good that you know how to back down and cheat. Although you're incredibly stupid, you're not beyond redemption."

Despite saying that, the 'white monkey' had no intention of letting him go. It threw a series of pine cones, hitting Qin Jiu in the shoulder blades and lungs, making the boy scream in pain.

"Ouch! Ouch! It hurts! It hurts! Spare me, spare me, Monkey Immortal! Spare me... Hey! You stinking monkey, are you done yet?! I'm telling you, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"

"Oh, so you know the saying 'a scholar can be killed but not humiliated,' huh? You've been to school, haven't you? So what if I humiliated you? Come and bite me!"

The 'white monkey' seemed to be circling around Qin Jiu, deliberately torturing him, throwing pine cones from all directions, making Qin Jiu's whole body sore, hot, painful and numb. His back and shoulders were shaken by the force and made to crack and pop. He was also hung upside down and his essence and blood flowed backward, rushing to the top of his head.

"Hey, you stinky monkey, don't be so arrogant! I, Qin Jiu, am a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain! My master, Qingyue, is nearby! If he finds out that you, this monster, have bullied me, he will never let you get away with it!"

The 'white monkey' continued its attack, even chuckling coldly.

"Oh dear, Qingyue, I'm so scared! Is that the old geezer who threw you down from the sky? You called him an old geezer, and you expect him to come and save you? You expect your master to always be by your side to save you? Then shout again, shout louder, and see if he'll come to save you!"

Seeing that shouting until his throat was dry was useless, and that the monkey was still tormenting him like a madman, hitting him with pine cones again and again, causing him unbearable pain, Qin Jiu had no choice but to give up begging for mercy, shut his mouth to avoid releasing his energy, tense his muscles, and try his best to hold his breath and endure.

Although Qin Jiu has only just joined the sect and has only just learned the basics of Qi Refinement Stage, he hasn't practiced any other Foundation Establishment techniques yet, let alone the kind of Body Domination Technique that can be infused into the whole body to increase defensive effects.

But he realized that the monkey was probably deliberately trying to hurt him, hitting the same spot on his body with every blow, and repeatedly hitting the same place over and over again, causing excruciating pain. After being hit three times, he immediately memorized the location and sequence of the pine cone's attacks, and preemptively focused his last Dao Breath of energy on the spot where the pine cone had hit him to resist the attack.

"Huh?"

The 'white monkey' noticed the pine cones had been missing for a while, but it seemed surprised and suddenly poked a finger into Qin Jiu's shoulder. The pain almost made him give up, but he managed to hold on without screaming, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"You've got some skills, kid..."

Qin Jiu's lips trembled. She glared at the monkey-faced man, snorted, and turned her head away.

"Hehe, kid, you're angry? Don't be angry. I'll hit you eighty-one times, and once I'm done and my anger has subsided, I'll let you down. You just have to bear with it, hehehe, I want to see how long you can hold out. Hehehe."

Qin Jiu rolled her eyes. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it, while Li Fan beamed with joy.

Wow, what a gem!

Yes, he wasn't being petty or deliberately torturing Qin Jiu. It's just that the guy's physique was really too poor, so he took this opportunity to help him break his tendons and bones, open up his body's energy channels, and reshape his body. Even if he was crippled, he could still be molded up with Immortal Spirit Jade Marrow, which would make it easier for him to cultivate in the future.

Surprisingly, Qin Jiu does have a tiny bit of talent. Although his aptitude for cultivating immortality and refining Qi is only average, if it weren't for the current 'revival of spiritual Qi,' he might not even have any Qi perception.

But perhaps because he had been lazy since childhood, he was tough and had a knack for martial arts. After only three rounds of practice, he was able to accurately remember the order of the Qi channels in his body when struck by the pine cone. He could not only tense his muscles in advance to avoid injury and shock, but also gather his Dao Breath in one place at will to reduce his own damage. Moreover, he immediately absorbed and used the pure Dao Breath that Li Fan attached to the pine cone and the Jing Tian Finger to help him open his meridians as his own protective Dao Breath!

This kid's a genius!

Li Fan was very happy. In order not to make Qin Jiu arrogant and complacent, he secretly increased the intensity of the pine cone. No matter how much Qin Jiu's Dao Breath absorption increased, he always maintained the intensity to shatter the boy's protective true qi in one blow, making him grit his teeth in pain.

After being hit 108 times, Qin Jiu finally couldn't take it anymore. With a "ha!" he broke free from the vines and branches, flipped and leaped out from between the pine trees, and ran away, cursing as he ran.

"You promised eighty-one times, and I was counting! You damn monkey, you broke your promise!"

Then, with a "smack," a pine branch struck Qin Jiu's mouth, causing him to fall backward, groaning while covering his mouth, his nose bleeding profusely, and his lips swollen.

Li Fan chuckled and smacked his palm with a pine branch.

"If you believe everything others say, you won't even know how you die. Stand up, and don't cry."

Qin Jiu stood up, tears welling in her eyes. Her mouth was swollen and she couldn't open it for a moment, only able to sob, "Waaah..."

"I told you not to cry!"

Li Fan swung a stick at Qin Jiu, causing his hand to swell up.

"Awooo!"

Qin Jiu was in so much pain he almost jumped up the tree. He almost did because he had just landed on the trunk when Li Fan cut the trunk off with a pine branch, causing him to lose his footing and fall flat on his face.

"Ugh... no, I don't know how to address this senior... how did Qin Jiu offend you..."

Unable to fight back or escape, Qin Jiu was now in despair and could only lie on the ground with his head raised.

This time he saw clearly that the person opposite him was not an ape, but a human cultivator. Although this person was dressed entirely in white, from leather to robes, and upon closer inspection, his pupils were filled with a deep purple, shimmering, monkey-like face, he certainly didn't look like a 'human'.

"No, I can't accept that title, senior. I'm a monkey, so just call me Yuan Gong."

Li Fan smiled as he looked at Qin Jiu, who was trembling and shaking with fear.

"Yuan Gong, I have been entrusted by your master, Qingyue, to teach you some basic skills."

Qin Jiu nearly fainted. "You almost beat me to death! Is this how you teach beginner skills?!"

Li Fan raised his hand and lashed out, the pine branch striking Qin Jiu's neck, sending him spinning 360 degrees in the air before he crashed to the ground, a large patch of skin torn off his neck, leaving it covered in blood.

But Qin Jiu didn't cry out in pain. This attack was so realistic and chilling, it was as if he had been beheaded right in front of him. The murderous intent was fully revealed, and it completely stunned him.

The boy, dressed in rags, covered in blood, and with pale lips, lay quietly on the ground, as if he had been killed by a sword. He stared blankly at the blue sky, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

"The basics, of course, are the skills to save your life."

Then Li Fan appeared in his field of vision, casually brushing away the pine needles, bark, and sawdust from the branch, leaving only a clean, soft twig, which he then patted on his face.

"You don't want to die, do you? You don't want to feel pain, do you? You're not capable enough to do it?"

Qin Jiu stared at Li Fan for a moment, gritted his teeth, wiped away his tears, and got up.

Li Fan nodded. "Good. Stand up, and then figure out a way to survive."

Well, to be honest, bullying kids is actually quite fun. cough cough

To be honest, Qin Jiu really has potential, not only in terms of martial arts comprehension, but Li Fan is also convinced that this boy is indeed the reincarnation of the Blood Infant, because when faced with his instantaneous sword intent, he didn't wet his pants or collapse, and was even able to get up.

This child is teachable.

In comparison, the tribute system here is much less interesting.

On the main side, Qingyue, dressed in a vermilion court robe, was sitting upright on an oxcart, holding a tablet in her hand. Beside her was the governor of Li Prefecture Governor holding a staff, with guards leading the way and imperial guards following on both sides. Behind her were carts of tribute, which entered the Tianshi Yuan along the main street.

In reality, the journey could be covered in the blink of an eye, but according to the rules and etiquette of paying homage, Li Fan, as the envoy of the Li Prefecture Governor, could only set off from Yuntai Peak with his carriage and entourage, and enter the pass on foot.

Foreign vassal states' delegations had to exchange credentials with the Dahonglu outside the old capital's city walls before entering Luoyang under the leadership of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. Escorted by the Imperial Guards, they would then parade around the Tianshi Yuan for three days to demonstrate the majesty of the Purple Immortal Palace, where all nations paid tribute and established the dynasty.

Actually, much of the equipment used for tribute was rented entirely from the Court of State Ceremonial, essentially borrowed for a three-day parade before being returned. But diplomacy and tributary relations are all about appearances and image projects. This way, with tribute and rewards exchanged, everyone from top to bottom could make money under various pretexts. The palace gained prestige, and the people got to enjoy the spectacle. Everyone was happy, just like festivals, expositions, or sports meets—cough, those who know, know.

Although Li Fan was just going through the motions and had already been distracted by other things, focusing his main attention on disciplining Qin Jiu, he had to admit, as he secretly observed the strength of the Immortal Palace, that although the world was in chaos because of these nobles, the Three Palaces were far from being doomed and on the verge of collapse.

The Three Enclosures remain the most populous and prosperous imperial capital in the Central Plains, or rather, in this world.

Although the imperial clan was weak, the vassal states were in turmoil, and the common people were suffering, the Three Immortal Clans were prosperous and flourishing like never before.

With the pacification of Zhen, the wealth and population of this fertile land have been largely swallowed up and seized by the Three Enclosures. Gao Xing, the Heavenly Army Military Jiedushi of Gen Province, also paid tribute and surrendered earlier, offering a large amount of gold and silver from Hebei to purchase military equipment for the Immortal Palace in order to suppress and punish the military governors in various Jiedushi. Meanwhile, the war in Kun continues unabated, and many of the powerful clans and wealthy families in Kun have fled to the interior of the pass with their family fortunes.

Because the Immortal Palace court simultaneously mobilized large armies to wage war in the east and west, it lost control of the Twelve Countries. However, the pockets of local Celestial clans swelled even more as the Celestial Treasury emptied its coffers to cover various military expenditures. No one could ever find out who ultimately controlled the resources and territories that had been seized from the Immortal Palace by rebel armies, refugees, and demonic cults.

As a result, the areas under the control of the Ziwei Yuan's imperial edict were becoming fewer and fewer, while the Grand Tutor Manor, supported by the Three Palaces Immortal Clan, was able to command and mobilize more and more troops, money, and provisions.

It's clear that the power of the Immortal Palace hasn't actually weakened; it's just that this power has been transferred from the Ziwei Yuan Enclosure to other places.

Before the Three Great Sects' forces are completely exhausted, there will likely be more fighting to come.

However, putting aside those distant issues, Li Fan personally experienced just how tense the situation was in Sanyuan right now.

On the first day of the tour, seven old Xuanmen cultivators at the Divine Transformation Realm came to the roadside to look at him. Cultivators at the True Person Realm Golden Core Realm were even more numerous in the Three Enclosures of the Jingji, so many that they couldn't be counted.

Well, it's not that Li Fan is particularly handsome, cough cough, it's that although he is very handsome, people didn't come to see him because of his looks, but to have their fortunes told through Qi observation. To put it bluntly, they know they'll scheme against you sooner or later, so they specifically came to see the real person, to memorize his Divine Sense, so their predictions would be more accurate. Damn...

Although he was annoyed, Li Fan was there to pay tribute, so he couldn't just yell at someone for staring at him like that! Did they want to be robbed?

After all, once he reached the Divine Transformation stage, Qingyue Divine Lord was a world-renowned public figure, and he couldn't just kill anyone he saw like before. So Li Fan didn't care anymore. Let them watch, let them watch if they want. Then he glared back at them one by one, exchanged a few Divine Sense, and returned with a Heavenly Book Magic Puppet as a bonus.

Well, these puppets are also the product of Li Fan's research on Blood Infant and the System Heavenly Book over the years. They are roughly equivalent to a mind demon that randomly packages fragments of the Tai Su Dao Heavenly Book. It is set that when the opponent goes astray, fails to transcend tribulation, suffers severe damage to their primordial spirit, experiences emotional collapse, or is unable to reincarnate, the Heavenly Book Magic Puppet will be activated and release a section of the Tai Su Heavenly Scripture to help fellow cultivators change course and overtake others.

Well, Li Fan is really putting his heart into spreading the Tai Su Dao. Although this move wasn't perfect, as three out of the seven people saw through his hidden trick, it was still a token of his good intentions, so there's no need for everyone to thank him profusely.

Finally, the first day of the parade was over. Li Fan had been staring at several old men and women until his eyes were dry and his eyes were a little cross-eyed before he could return to the envoy's villa for a short stay. Before he could even have a sip of tea, the steward of the Grand Tutor Manor came to deliver gifts.

The steward was the same one who had delivered the Golden Dragon before. This time, he sent over a tray of ten hairpins. Even if he didn't give face to the Grand Tutor, he still gave face by paying money. So Li Fan summoned the man over, and they exchanged pleasantries.

It turns out that the Grand Tutor is currently unwell and in seclusion, not seeing anyone. However, Lady Duke of Shouyang heard that Zhang Qianhu's friend had come to the capital and was worried that he would not be comfortable there, so she specially sent someone to deliver some small change for daily expenses and invited him to stay temporarily at the Zhang family's residence in the Jingji, Feigong, to guide the Zhang Family's disciples in their cultivation.

In fact, Li Fan had already figured it out: Zhang Qianhu Zhang Chongyang was actually the second son of the Grand Tutor, the Yangxiang Marquis, and the identity that General of Anxi Sima Wen usually used when handling affairs in the martial arts world. As for what he meant by "instructing the Zhang Family's disciples," he probably meant to instruct them on how to befriend the Sima family's disciples.

Back then, he was just short of money and casually grabbed some to spend, but the Duchess had the foresight and courage to invest heavily in him, so now it's really hard to refuse.

Moreover, at this point in time, entering and leaving the Grand Tutor Manor is too sensitive. Li Fan, representing Ink Bamboo Mountain, was also somewhat hesitant about whether to get involved in the political vortex of the Three Realms so early. Unexpectedly, they had already made full preparations, inviting friends to visit and instructing their clansmen in the name of the Zhang Clan. They were truly thorough and watertight.

Seeing that not only was the Grand Tutor himself shrewd and calculating, but Lady Shouyang and her two legitimate sons were also outstanding individuals, and that this whole family was as clever as devils, Li Fan could only sigh that the Sima Clan was probably truly destined to fall.